Potato-digging machine.



We]. $67,890. "Patented Fab. I2, I90?v E. J. MDULTUN.

PDTATU DIGGING MACHINE.

(1M0 M d (Application filed May 29', 1900.)

2 Sheeta$heet l,

Patented Fab. I2, IQOI.

0. .1. Mount) POTATO DIGGING HAEHINE.

(Applicatiun filed May 29, 1900.) MOdBU 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

' UHARLES JQSEPH MOULTON, OF OHATTERIS, ENGLAND.

POTATU DIGGING MACHINE.

SPEUMTIUN forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,890, dated February 12, 1901.

' Application filed May 29. 1900. satin No. 18,360. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEsJosEPH MOUL Y and useful Improvements in Potato-Digging carrying-arms.

vention I attach these arms to the frame of- Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, andfor which I have made application for patent in Great Britain dated November 3, 1899.

The invention relates to improvements upon an inn-ention described in the specification of Letters Patent of the United States of America No. 609,289, dated August 16, 1898, whereby I greatly improve the operation of the machine by rendering it more certain in action and less liable to become choked with weeds.

In the said specification are shown and described two vertical dependent arms at the front of the machine carrying the-digging share, which is arranged approximately in a line with the short endless elevator. Now I have found that in a machine constructed according to the said prior patent there was a great tendency for weeds and potato-tops to collect at the angle between the share and its According to my present inthe machine at a point farther back, and I carry the said arms forward to the desired point for carrying the share in a direction ap proximately parallel to the short endless elevator. I also employ an auxiliary endless band arranged approximately parallel to the short endless elevator and at a short distance above the same. This endless band has a number of points or projections which help to push the weeds, earth, and potatoes onto the short endless elevator. This auxiliary endless band is carried by two rollers and is driven by a chain and sprocket wheel from any convenient part of the machine. The auxliary endless band is made, preferably,adjustable, so that it may be arranged parallel to the endless elevator or at slightlyyarying angles thereto for different kinds of soil. The p0 nts or projections on the anxiliary'endless band may also be varied according to the soil.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying (:irawings.

Figure represents the left-hand side view, and i the right-hand side view,of so much of a potato-digging;- machine as will enable my present improvements to be clearly understood.

. -In order that my present invention may be clearly understood in connection with the in vention described in the specification of patent hereinbefore referred to, Iwill apply similar letters of reference to such parts of the machine as'correspond with parts described the other below the frame a, through which the upright e is passed,and which can be fixed in the desired position in relation to the frame a by set-screws a g is the share, which instead of being carried by the dependent arms a* (described in the specification hereinbefore referred to) is, according to my present invention, carried by arms a pivoted at a to side brackets a which also help to support the side frames or guards 01:. These arms a extend forward from the pivots a to the desired point for carrying the share g in a direction approximately parallel to the short endless elevator h.. I also employ the following means for raising and lowering the share g: 011 the arms a I fix segmental racks a", and on the frame a I fixbearings a carrying a shaft a, on which are fixed pinions a gearing with the segmental racks a On such shaft c is also fixed a worm-wheel an, which can be rotated by a worm a on a shaft a, provided with a hand-wheel a, wheel a the share can be adjusted for depth Thus by rotating the handofawork, and it can be raised above the ground tor it pass, and through which a considerable employ an auxiliaryendless rake-band part of the earth accompanying the potatoes help to push the weeds, earth, and potatoes endless band onto the short endless elevator h.' This aux-. iliary endless bandp is carried'by two rollers p p The roller p is fixed to a shaft pi and the rollerp is mounted on a shaft 19 carried by arms 19, mounted on the shaft p. The

p is driven by means of an'endless chain 19 passing around a s rocketwheel 19", fixed to the driving-sha around a sprocket shaft 19 I The auxiliary endless band is made, preferably, adjustable in the following manner, so that it may be arranged parallel to the short endless elevator h or at slightly-varying angles thereto for difierent kinds of soil: To the shaft p are;fixed connectingrods 19 which are connected to levers p, fixed on a shaft10 ,'on which latter is also fixed a lever -wheel 19", fixedto the p, which by a connecting-rodp is connected with a hand-lever p This hand-leverp is provided with a pawl 19 acting in combination with the teeth of a segmentalraekp", by which means the rake-band-p can be retained in any desired position. 1

What I claim as my present invention, and

Letters Patent, is- 1. In a potato-digger, the combination of a share; I pivoted arms extending backward therefrom supporting said share; a stationary grating at therearof the share carried by said pivoted arms; a short endless elevator carried by said pivoted arms and" receiving the potatoes,*tops, weeds and earth from the I grating; meansfor adjusting the heightof the pivoted arms; an'endless rake-band 'ar-' ranged above the share, grating and short endless elevator; and means for adjusting the angle of the endless rake-band; substantially as herein 'set forth.

2; In a potato-digger, the combination of a t c, and

on a shaft at the rear of the share in line therewith; pivoted arms extending backward fromjthe share and carrying said share and grating; a short endless elevator carried bysaid pivoted arms and receiving the potatoes, tops, weeds and earth from the. grating; means acting on the pivoted arms for adjusting the height of the share, grating and short endless elevator; an endless elevating-screen arranged at the rear of the short endless elevator, and extending slightly under the latter; an endless rake-band arranged above the share, grating'and short endless elevator; and means for adjusting the angle of the endless rake-band; substan tially as set forth. w V

3. Ina potato-digger, the combination of a share; a grating fixed at the-rear-of saidrshare in line therewith; pivoted arms carrying said grating and share and extending backward from the share; a short endless elevator arshare; a grating fixed ranged, at the rear of said grating and carried by said pivoted arms; an endless elevatingsoreen arranged at the rear of the short endless elevator,and extending slightly under the latter; segmental racks fixed on said pivoted arms; pin ions gearing with said racks fixed carried 'by bearings on the frame of the machine; a worm-wheel fixed .on said shaft; a worm gearingtherewith; an inclined shaft carrying said worm; a hand-wheel on the inclined shaft by which the latter may be rotated; an endless rake-band arranged above the short endless elevator; pivoted arms bywhich said endless rake-band is carried; connecting-rods attached to said pivoted arms; crank-levers pivoted to the conmeeting-rods; a shaft towhich said crank-levers are fixed;a. rod pivoted at one endto One of the crank-levers; an operating lever to which the opposite ed and by which the. rake-bandvis adjusted;and pawl and segmental raok by means of which the said operating-lever .is held in its adjusted position; substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES Jos'EPH MOULTON, Witnesses:

B. J. B. MILLS,

WM. GIRLING.

end of the rod is pivotheight of the endless.

IOO 

